PE-66,PE-66 / Specialist: Payroll

BMW M Motorsport / BMW Group; Akasia; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive company in Gauteng is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee the Payroll & Benefits service for South African entities. The role requires extensive experience in payroll management and SAP HR, ensuring compliance with legislation. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, a detailed-oriented approach, and excellent communication abilities. The position offers the chance to work in a dynamic environment with a focus on simplification and standardisation.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of SAP HR experience.
• At least 5 years South Africa Payroll experience.
• Minimum of 5 years Payroll / Benefits / Time Experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure professional Payroll & Benefits service to all South African entities.
• Monitor accuracy of Payroll data as per guidelines.
• Deal with escalations from HRM and Trade Union.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication

Attention to details

Strong Excel skills

Knowledge of BMW HR processes

Ability to work independently

Education

Relevant tertiary degree or equivalent payroll qualification

CIPP qualified or equivalent (desirable)

Tools

SAP HR

Job description

Team Management

• Give disciplinary direction to team members, holding regular 1:1s and providing input into the annual performance review.
• Manage any performance issues within the team and provide and monitor development plans for employees where appropriate.
• Train, induct and support new team members.
• Ensure consistent and regular communications to own team to ensure key information and expectations are understood.
• Working with the Payroll Steerer who will provide the team with functional direction, ensure that Payroll is completed accurately and on time each month.

Service Provision

• Responsible to ensure a high quality, professional Payroll & Benefits service to all South African entities.
• Ensure that where an issue or error is found in the Payroll & Benefits team that a systemic fix is found, implemented and documented to prevent reoccurrence.
• Ensure that all responsibilities within the Payroll & Benefits team (Project deadlines, delivery deadlines, outstanding issues, communications etc) are brought to closure swiftly.

Monitoring SLA

• Monitor accuracy of Payroll to ensure that all payroll data is accurate as dictated by BMW Group guidelines and policies as well as relevant employment legislation.
• Uses reporting system to monitor team statistics.
• Reports on SLA. Uses results to prepare management dashboards.

Provider Management

• Ensure that services provided are covered under agreement.
• Hold regular review sessions to ensure providers are delivering on service agreements
• Where service is not being delivered escalate to Head of Service/Purchasing as required.
• Set and monitor external service provider KPIs and SLA deliverables on a quarterly basis.

Adherence to internal guidelines

• Ensure that purchasing processes are followed by the Payroll & Benefits team.
• Ensure all relevant Purchase Orders are raised correctly, on time and meeting BMW guidelines.

Payroll Run

• Ensure that all payroll activities are carried out as per business requirements meeting all deadlines.

Compliance

• Understand and comply with all relevant tax and social security legislation.

Technical Expertise

• Have a complete overview in area of expertise i.e. Payroll for all South African sites and be able to provide support and guidance.
• Provide technical expertise to HRM and internal departments to ensure consistent adherence to guidelines and policies.

Act as point of contact for operational escalations

• Deal with escalations from HRM and Trade Union where the team have been unable to respond effectively, or which have resulted in significant/multiple escalations.

System Changes

• Take ownership for investigating, analysing and raising the required tickets within area of expertise.
• Correctly raise JIRA stories providing all required documentation.
• Follow change through to testing.
• Ensure relevant business and system documentation is completed.

Attend relevant circles and working groups

• Act on behalf of the team as the nominated expert.

Promote better ways of working

• Pro-actively look at ways to drive change within the team through simplification, standardisation and automation.

Education

• Relevant tertiary degree or equivalent payroll qualification.
• Ideally CIPP qualified or equivalent.

Work experience, Leadership experience

• At least 2 years of SAP HR experience.
• At least 5 years South Africa Payroll experience.
• Minimum of 5 years Payroll / Benefits / Time Experience.
• Extensive payroll management experience.

Additional skills: special skills / technical ability etc

• Strong analytical skills and organized in a problem-solving environment.
• Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to details, precision oriented.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Knowledge of BMW HR processes, policies, instruments and systems.
• Experience of working both cross-function and/or internationally.
• Ability to work independently and able to adopt a proactive approach.
• Membership of Professional Institution (e.g. CIPP) is desirable.

DUE DATE: 8 October 2025